Les Cheneaux

The Niagara Escarpment

Les Cheneaux is part of the Niagara Escarpment– a crescent shaped limestone arch that runs from the Niagara region of New York State and Eastern Ontario, through northern Lake Huron and Lake Michigan, to northern Wisconsin. The escarpment is a massive ridge of fossil-rich sedimentary rock which began its formation 450 million years ago as the outer rim of a shallow sea known geologically as the Michigan Basin.

The formation of the Niagara Escarpment began 430 to 450 million years ago, when the area lay under a shallow warm sea. This sea lay in a depression of the earth’s crust, the centre of which is now called the State of Michigan. Now geologically known as the Michigan Basin, the outer rim of this massive saucer-shaped feature defines the Niagara Escarpment.

The rocks at the base of the Niagara Escarpment of are Late Ordovician age (from approximately 450 million years ago.) Those that comprise the major part of the Escarpment proper belong in the Early and Middle Silurian age (approximately 400 million years ago).

Unique characteristics of the escarpment that are seen throughout Les Cheneaux include our white, “cobblestone” beaches, limestone ledges, huge expanses of limestone bedrock that can be seen underwater in some areas, and random boulders scattered throughout the woods and on the lake shore—some as large as houses.

Les Cheneaux shares these amazing geological features with other places along the escarpment, such as Drummond Island and the Garden Peninsula in Michigan, the Bruce Peninsula in Ontario, and the Door Peninsula in Wisconsin.

Upcoming Events

Summer 2016 Events

Visit the at lescheneaux.net for event dates and times!

Weekly Events:

Saturdays
All Year: Story & Craft Time at Les Cheneaux Community Library, 10:30 am, Cedarville

Sundays
All Year: Les Cheneaux Farmers & Artisans Market, 10 am to 2 pm, Hessel School House, Hessel

Hessel Flea Market at the Marketplace, 10 am to 2 pm, Hessel Marketplace, 2900 W. M-134, Hessel

August

August 19, 20, 21: Cedar Cove’s HUGE Annual Garage Sale Weekend, 9 am to 4 pm each day, at Cedar Cove Assisted Living’s Community Room, 266 Mary L. Street, Cedarville

August 20: Red Willow Birch Bark Picture Frame, 2 pm – 5 pm, Bob Causley, Arts Council Building, Cedarville

August 21: Sweet Songs of Summer – Live Music and Desserts, 7-10 pm, Bethel Lutheran Church, Cedarville. Featuring members and community friends of Bethel Lutheran Church, this traditional summer concert will be offered at the church at 217 M-129 in Cedarville. Free and open to the public.

August 23: Knitting Group, 1 pm – 3:30 pm, (every 4th Thursday of the Month through September 27) with Nancy O’Polka, Pickle Point, Hessel

August 22-27 (or June 27 – July 2 choose a date): Kaholo Paddle Board, 9 am – 5 pm, Great Lakes Boat Building School, Cedarville

August 24: Locker Hooking, 1 pm – 3:30 pm, Deb Williams, Pickle Point, Hessel

August 27: 15th Annual Slammin’ Salmon Derby presented by Islands Wildlife & the Islander Bar. Mandatory Captain’s Meeting is Friday, August 26, 7 pm, Islander Bar in downtown Hessel. Derby kicks off early Saturday morning, at 6:30 am, from Hessel Marina. The derby is now offering $4,000 in cash prizes, and is introducing a new “trifecta,” offering any boat that catches a legal-sized salmon, steelhead and lake trout a $100 bonus!! (bonuses are limited to 1 per boat) More info at

August 31: Tatting, 1 pm – 3:30 pm, Deb Williams, Pickle Point, Hessel

September

September 2: Beer Fest & Art Auction, Great Lakes Boat Building School, Cedarville

Sept 3: Art in the Park, 11 am to 4 pm, Downtown Cedarville

Sept 5-10 (or July 18-23 choose a date): Eastport Pram, 9 am – 5 pm, Great Lakes Boat Building School, Cedarville

Sept 5-10 (or July 18-23 choose a date): Passagemaker Dinghy, 9 am – 5 pm, Great Lakes Boat Building School, Cedarville

Sept 5-10 (or July 18-23 choose a date): Ultralight Dinghy, 9 am – 5 pm, Great Lakes Boat Building School, Cedarville

Sept 5-10 (or July 18-23 choose a date): Cradle Boat, 9 am – 5 pm, Great Lakes Boat Building School, Cedarville

Sept 7: Wool Applique / Penny Rugs, 1 pm – 3:30 pm, Sherri Huff, Pickle Point, Hessel

Sept 13: Crochet, 1 pm – 3:30 pm, (every 2nd Tuesday of the Month through September 13) Sherri Huff, Pickle Point, Hessel

September 16: Full Moon Kayak Trip, 7 pm (3-4 hours long), Woods & Water Ecotours

September 21: Needle Punch Embroidery, 1 pm – 3:30 pm, Sherri Huff, Pickle Point, Hessel

September 27: Knitting, 1 pm – 3:30 pm, (every 4th Thursday of the Month through September 27) Nancy Opolka, Pickle Point, Hessel

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